Help decide to do Gasoline Stations offered in email for $5, please help me.
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No, I will not do gas stations for $5.00. I work for companies that pay more than $5.00 for a gas station. MaritzCX and Market Force have gas stations.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
No, I would not do gas station audits for less than $15. I have done about 7000 shops in my last 7 years, and I have never seen a $5 shop of any kind I would do. You probably would not even break even, considering gas, electricity, and wear on your car, not to mention the time out of your personal life.
Also check A Closer Look. 4 photos and several narratives. Reimbursement for gas and coffee, so ask for a bonus.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Pay Rate 4.50 Reimbursement $1.00
Refinery Terms and LOA in case employees ask why you take photos.
I sent email asking for extra money to pay fuel to do job, manager sent me email "Dear Akbar, our company we contracted out our services has provided a generous and marketable remuneration. We have found this price point for shoppers allows them to bundle jobs of four exceeding most of our competitor companies".
Am I wrong to ask for money for gas to do a gas station?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2016 02:17AM by Akbar.
Refinery Terms and LOA in case employees ask why you take photos.
I sent email asking for extra money to pay fuel to do job, manager sent me email "Dear Akbar, our company we contracted out our services has provided a generous and marketable remuneration. We have found this price point for shoppers allows them to bundle jobs of four exceeding most of our competitor companies".
Am I wrong to ask for money for gas to do a gas station?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2016 02:17AM by Akbar.
Wow! That is beyond terrible. What MSC is offering a pittance like that?
I would, in no way, describe that as "generous" or "marketable."
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2016 02:21AM by meghan9262.
I would, in no way, describe that as "generous" or "marketable."
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2016 02:21AM by meghan9262.
Akbar, lots of us have said we would not do gas stations for $5.00.
For my main company, the cheapest one I do is $10.00 plus $1.00 reimbursement, the next one is $10.50 plus reimbursement for two gallons of gas and $2.00 inside purchase, the third one is $11.00 plus reimbursement for $5.00 in gas and $1.00 inside purchase, and the fourth one is $14.50 with no purchase required. Those are the base rates on the stations and many times I pick them up with a nice bonus.
For the other company, the stations start at $9.00 plus $5.00 reimbursement with a requirement to buy at least two gallons of gas plus an inside purchase, so for that one it is a total of $14.00 to cover everything. If we spend more than $5.00 to buy two gallons of gas and make an inside purchase we are not reimbursed for the extra. I do very few stations for this company as they don't have much in my area.
I do not do gas stations for the company you are talking about above because they do not pay enough. I don't care how many jobs you string together, you will not make money at $4.50 per job. No, never. Forget about their gas stations. Look elsewhere for your gas stations. MARITZCX. MARKET FORCE.
For my main company, the cheapest one I do is $10.00 plus $1.00 reimbursement, the next one is $10.50 plus reimbursement for two gallons of gas and $2.00 inside purchase, the third one is $11.00 plus reimbursement for $5.00 in gas and $1.00 inside purchase, and the fourth one is $14.50 with no purchase required. Those are the base rates on the stations and many times I pick them up with a nice bonus.
For the other company, the stations start at $9.00 plus $5.00 reimbursement with a requirement to buy at least two gallons of gas plus an inside purchase, so for that one it is a total of $14.00 to cover everything. If we spend more than $5.00 to buy two gallons of gas and make an inside purchase we are not reimbursed for the extra. I do very few stations for this company as they don't have much in my area.
I do not do gas stations for the company you are talking about above because they do not pay enough. I don't care how many jobs you string together, you will not make money at $4.50 per job. No, never. Forget about their gas stations. Look elsewhere for your gas stations. MARITZCX. MARKET FORCE.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Akbar, it really seems like you would benefit from signing up for some of the companies on the list on this site. Start with a few a day and build up. This will give you options and the ability to compare shops and companies. It isn't a bad idea to watch to see what shops are bonused in your area and which are grabbed up really fast at the going rate.
Just from the pay rate it is very easy to figure out the MS. I do know what company you are talking about. Everything starts at $5 with them, clothing stores, bookstores. They do go up to $10 very quickly and the last day of the month $30 or higher for the same location that they swear they never offer a bonus, and for others during snow storms they go $70 or higher so do not believe what they say. I really liked this "we have found this price point for shoppers allows them to bundle jobs of four exceeding most of our competitor companies". Hillarious! They mean you need to bundle four to exceed ONE of the competitors.
A gas station with more than 8 pumps needs more than $15. The other companies have better reimbursement rates. The problem is now gas is so cheap that the gas reimbursement is not worth as much anymore since they reimburse for 2 gallons for one, and the second becomes problematic because they reimburse $5 so the tank fills quickly if you are doing routes. I usually make an agreement with the other companies for a higher than the initial rate advertised but lower what they offer at the end of the month, and I just spread them during the month so I will always have a gas station available.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2016 03:41AM by KateH.
A gas station with more than 8 pumps needs more than $15. The other companies have better reimbursement rates. The problem is now gas is so cheap that the gas reimbursement is not worth as much anymore since they reimburse for 2 gallons for one, and the second becomes problematic because they reimburse $5 so the tank fills quickly if you are doing routes. I usually make an agreement with the other companies for a higher than the initial rate advertised but lower what they offer at the end of the month, and I just spread them during the month so I will always have a gas station available.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2016 03:41AM by KateH.
When Gas Stations that respect you pay correctly, how long is the time for 8 or 10 pumps? We take photos of the inside fast food too, bathrooms and all unwelcome and unattractive oil patches, broken pumps and roof covering with rust. How does a expert like all of you do intense shops demanding 20 photos, upload is not fast in my area even with cable fiber.
If you were 22 years old or 25 years old, which companies would be your top ten? I signed for for four more companies after I got your replies. How come people are so nice here helping others learn mystery shopping? The gift of time to help kids and others reentering the job force is very kind, showing fellow human love and mercy, bless you all!
If you were 22 years old or 25 years old, which companies would be your top ten? I signed for for four more companies after I got your replies. How come people are so nice here helping others learn mystery shopping? The gift of time to help kids and others reentering the job force is very kind, showing fellow human love and mercy, bless you all!
Everyone is slow on the first gas stations of any brand. With experience we get faster. You need a cheat sheet and a picture list for each brand of station so that you do not fail to get all your pictures and all the information you need. Once you have learned how to do a brand you will be much faster.
I am sure there are many shoppers who are faster than I am. Depending on the brand of the station and the number of pumps involved as well as the physical size of the location, I will run from 10 minutes to 30 minutes on site and I will run about the same or longer on the report. My first station probably ran around two hours on site and I don't remember the report.
Each brand will be a learning process. I recommend you learn one brand at a time. After you have mastered the first brand, you will be ready to add another brand.
I am sure there are many shoppers who are faster than I am. Depending on the brand of the station and the number of pumps involved as well as the physical size of the location, I will run from 10 minutes to 30 minutes on site and I will run about the same or longer on the report. My first station probably ran around two hours on site and I don't remember the report.
Each brand will be a learning process. I recommend you learn one brand at a time. After you have mastered the first brand, you will be ready to add another brand.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
My first gas station (when I was a brand new shopper) was $6 and I had to take tons of pictures, in the rain, camera getting wet, holding paperwork and steadying the umbrella. None of this worked well because the rain was at an angle and I got very drenched! I never did another gas station for this company again. 
don't let yourself get hosed like that, that pay is beyond a joke.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2016 02:26PM by jay225.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2016 02:26PM by jay225.
I hit delete button, join Market Force and Martz, thank you for teaching me to avoid companies who treat works with no respect because the gas station is a big truck and truck drivers, busy on Interstate Freeway. I spend one hour doing photos of oil spill, many restrooms and big store. $5.50 is wrong, I live in America not India though $5.50 a hour in India is great pay, cost to live is cheaper in India. Thank you.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2016 05:31AM by Akbar.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2016 05:31AM by Akbar.
If you do not know how many pumps are approximately at an unknown location, use google maps first before accepting the assignment, so you wont be in an unpleasant surprise of 20 pumps without a good bonus for the large number of pumps.
Kind people, all the jobs were taken by someone for $5, they accepted the generous money of $5 USD. I feel like I don't miss out on opportunity thank you to all. Total jobs were ten over a 60 mile radius, one person did accept I was told by schedule maker.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/2016 08:53PM by Akbar.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/2016 08:53PM by Akbar.
Bing Maps has a great bird's-eye view which lets you rotate the aerial view in four directions and see properties from four different aerial vantage points.
I would suggest you don't do any shops (that require you to drive somewhere especially) for only $5. The only types I consider for that cheap a pay are phone shops that don't require much time/work.
Shopping Southern Ontario (Canada) and Western New York (U.S.A.)!
People here are hapy to advise because we don't see each other as competition but asa networking group. There is enough jobs out there for all of us. As professionals it's better to help and advise then tear each other down. This group of professional mystery shoppers is the best place to get advice, assistance and to learn. @Akbar if you're new you found a great group to learn from.
Last year I did many gas stations at the low rate. From January to about July I did not put gas in my car that was not reimbursed. I liked the gas stations as they were a reveal shop. Did they pay much no. I am not doing them this year as they don't pay much. I made the huge mistake of taking 3 routes. I ran out of room in my gas tank to do those and finished them by using our lawn mower gas can.
Some other shoppers did you a favor by picking up those shops...they must be desperate. Seriously? Even if most of them were only a block apart, who would take them? Akbar, you need to set a minimum $ amount you are willing to accept, it will save you a whole lot of aggravation. I work the L.A. area and years ago decided I won't get in my car for less than a $20 reimbursement. Best MS decision I ever made.
@MDavisnowell wrote:
No, I will not do gas stations for $5.00. I work for companies that pay more than $5.00 for a gas station. MaritzCX and Market Force have gas stations.
MarketForce has gas stations? Must be in other areas, since I have never seen any in NY.
fuzzy, they have some in Texas but not many around where I live.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
In my area, the MSC's with the high number of gas station shops are Maritz, Alta360, and Market Force. New Image has a few too (1 or 2 locations).
Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.
BONUS INCREASED! "$4.50 PLUS $1.75 MAKES $6.25 FROM $5" WOW, I hit delete button like you said to!
@Akbar wrote:
Good people, the station has two sides with sixteen pumps and request is $5 plus $1 for proof of life visit. Instructions said "photo of each pump pleaz,", "photo of bathrooms", photo of signs, photo of all damages and spills", photo of good street apeal and photo of mini mart.". and photo of big price signs, station has four of them in different places.
How can I do all this for $5, what rate would you charge to do a giant truck stock mega station. Will you do Gas Stations for $5?
That's too much work for $5. I'd say forget it.
@nc wrote:
@Akbar wrote:
Good people, the station has two sides with sixteen pumps and request is $5 plus $1 for proof of life visit. Instructions said "photo of each pump pleaz,", "photo of bathrooms", photo of signs, photo of all damages and spills", photo of good street apeal and photo of mini mart.". and photo of big price signs, station has four of them in different places.
How can I do all this for $5, what rate would you charge to do a giant truck stock mega station. Will you do Gas Stations for $5?
That's too much work for $5. I'd say forget it.
If you do forget it make sure you haven't signed up for it, then you have flaked and that is not good. When I first started I made the mistake of taking five shops spread out over a two week period in the blue big box home improvements store. I submitted one report and sent an email to the scheduler that I would not be doing the other ones because I could probably make more money looking along the highway for dropped money in less time. I not only burnt that bridge behind me, then I went and built a dam upstream and then destroyed that so it would wash the bridge away.
I have done gas stations for $5 before on isecretshop. However, it was convenience store only with 4 multiple choice questions and a upload of a receipt (soda that I was going to buy anyway). I was stopping there for gas anyway and the short report was done on the phone before leaving the parking lot. There is no way I would do multiple pump pictures for $5.
Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.
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